NEW DELHI: Ace Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu is on the road to recovery in the US after sustaining a thigh injury about a month and a half ago.
According to Sahdev Yadav, the President of the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF), Chanu is currently "95 percent fit." However, she will not be participating in the upcoming Commonwealth Championships taking place in India next week.
Currently, Chanu is in St. Louis, USA, undergoing a 65-day training camp under the supervision of Dr. Aron Horschig.
Despite missing the Commonwealth Championships, she is expected to compete in the World Championships and the Asian Games scheduled for September.
As an Olympic silver medallist, Chanu's focus remains on these significant international events as she continues her recovery and preparation for future competitions.
"Mirabai had a little injury, she is undergoing rehab in St Louis for that. She is 95 per cent fit now and training well," Yadav told reporters on Thursday.
"About a month-and-a-half ago, Mirabai had complained of a problem in her thigh. So we immediately made preparations to send her to the US," he added.
Chanu has been consulting Horschig, a former weightlifter-turned-physical therapist and strength and conditioning coach, since 2020.
He has been instrumental in sorting out her imbalance issue which affected her snatch technique. She has had several training stints with him.
The IWLF is gearing up to host the Commonwealth Senior, Junior and Youth Championships in Greater Noida from July 12 and the Asian Youth and Junior Championships at the same venue from July 28.
"We have to keep her (Mirabai) protected till the Paris Olympics. She has to reduce weight to make the 49kg cut before competitions. And to do it so frequently will not be good for her, thus she will not be competing in the Commonwealth Championships," Yadav said.
The World Championships are scheduled from September 4 in Riyadh and the Asian Games will begin less than 20 days later in Hangzhou, China on September 23.
While the Asian Games are not a qualifying event for the 2024 Paris Olympics, an Asiad medal is the only silverware that the Manipuri hasn't won.
On the other hand, under the 2024 Olympic qualification rule, a lifter has to compulsorily compete in the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 World Cup.
Thus missing the Worlds is not an option for the 28-year-old.
Jeremy "weeded out" of national camp
Commonwealth Games champion Jeremy Lalrinnunga has been "weeded out" of the national camp after the weightlifter refused to go to the US for rehab for his back injury and also missed the trials for the Asian Games and World Championships.
"When Jeremy got hurt the first thing we told him was to go to St Louis. We also spoke to TOPS for it but he refused to go," Yadav said.
"He is a talented kid but did not give trials for World Championships and Asian Games. So, we weeded him out of the camp. He needs to perform to get back in.
"There have been little disciplinary issues with him as well."
CWG silver medallist Sanket Sargar is also not a part of the national camp in Patiala anymore.
"Sanket Sargar, he also had an injury so he was also removed from the camp. His performance has also gone down. Junior players beat him in the recent trials," Yadav said.
(With PTI inputs)
